A Vatican official commented recently on the issue of clerical
dress, trying to make a connection between the lack of vocations
and priests not wearing their collars or an identifiable uniform. I
find such arguments a bit incredulous. We keep looking for some
“reason” behind the lack of priestly vocations in the
developed world.
But what about the neuralgic issue of clerical dress?
Over the years I have been on different sides of this question.
By now I have arrived at a “radical middle of the road”
opinion. There are times when it is appropriate and even pastorally
useful to wear the collar. However, the old saying “The habit
does not make the priest/monk/nun” holds true. There are also
times when it is inappropriate and even counterproductive. (I have
seen monks in their habits in movie theaters and wondered whether
they were trying to give some form of witness to the theater-goers
or, in fact, had nothing else to wear! I was not impressed or
edified; I was actually embarassed that they were the center of
attention and a distraction. They knew everyone was watching them.
It struck me as highly narcissistic.)
Seminarians and younger clergy tend to wear clerical attire
quite regularly; clerical dress is usually expected in seminaries.
In younger clergy, it may be an outward expression of their desire
to develop a priestly identity. Eventually we/they come to realize
that “identity” is on the inside, not the outside. It
is a profound spiritual process guided by the Holy Spirit. This is
a very intricate developmental process for those aspiring to be
priests and the newly ordained.
Another issue worth a comment or two is the kind of liturgical
vestments priests wear at the altar. This is obviously a matter of
taste (and to some degree…budget.) Looking in Church
catalogues these days one can find a gradual increase in the number
of old fashioned vestments for sale: albs, chasubles, cassocks and
surplices, etc. The return to this old fashioned apparel is curious
to me. I have always wondered why any man — clergy or not
— would want to wear lace — and in front of an audience
as well? What is the message?
Let’s get even a bit bolder and take a look at the
Pope.
Franco Zeffirelli, the 84 year old Italian film, stage and opera
director was quoted in a recent interview about wanting to
“make over” the Pope. Zeffirelli contrasted the
media-savvy Pope John Paul II,
an outdoorsman who had little use for fancy papal attire,”
with Pope Benedict XVI “whose papal vestments have been done
over to be too sumptuous and showy…(Benedict) has taken to
wearing some eye-stopping outfits in his public appearances,
including a red velvet cape trimmed with ermine, a fur-trimmed
stocking cap that some first mistook for a Santa Claus hat, and
bright red Prada loafers.
Interesting observations from an interesting bystander!
It is not uncommon these days to see the Holy Father attended by
one chaplain wearing rather modern liturgical attire and his new
master of ceremonies, a younger priest, wearing lace. The
Pope’s former master of ceremonies, now an archbishop, seemed
much more contemporary in his dress than his successor. And this is
more and more reflected in the return to ornate papal vestments.
(Who decides what the pope wears — the Pope or his master of
ceremonies?) Is this a sign of coming attractions?
Beneath it all, my real concern is what message clerical attire
sends to the People of God. The challenge of priesthood, as I see
it, is to be as relevant as possible to people in their daily life
experiences and struggles, helping to mediate Christ’s
presence to them in today’s culture. The priest cannot afford
to be perceived as a vestige of a by-gone era. The challenge of the
gospel is always fresh and contemporary! And as for clerical
attire, it should not draw inordinate attention to itself or the
wearer, nor become an obstacle to a priests’ mission and
ministry to the People of God in the world today.
And your thoughts on this one, bloggers?
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Aaron Kelly
